The 2015 Ford Expedition fits in Everywhere

It does – took it on some country dirt roads, then above is when I valeted it at the Hazelton Hotel HAHA

(non-Toronto residents: that’s one of the city’s fanciest hotels.)

2015 Ford Expedition – Platinum Trim

3.5 L V6 engine
6-speed automatic transmission
365 hp
420 lb.ft

Starting at $49,999
This one $70,949

Everything in this centre console can be operated while wearing work gloves.

Had to go downtown twice that week, and once during Friday afternoon rush hour traffic at that.

I thought it’d be cumbersome to be in a 20″-wheeled mega machine, but it proved opposite and I had that thing flying around. Handling was direct, then add in all the torque, so when a fast move is needed, it can do it.

Finding parking wasn’t as tough as I thought it’d be either. Above is a tiny downtown side street.

Features include: plenty of USB ports, rear seats are heated and enjoy dedicated climate controls, wood trim and perforated front seats that can both cool and heat, and rain-sensing wipers.

This Platinum trim is equipped with both a rear-view camera and a reversense sensing system, but I barely used either, the sight lines were clear.

Ford does utilitarian really well. And because I’ll choose function over fashion every time, I’m into it #FunctionalLuxury

Ford Expedition

Also into power running boards.

I love being the biggest thing on the road, love the dichotomy, like how this Expedition can seat 8, and instead it was all for troll-doll-sized me.

But getting to drive something so large doesn’t happen often, so the novelty may be influencing my opinion, you should know this. That’s why auto journalists are separated into two groups – one does cars, the other specializes in giant vehicles and heavy-duty trucks.

 

 

Arty Mustang Photos

Last week’s car was a 2015 Mustang GT.  That was very yellow.

The Mustang engine note is one of the best out there, a good deep growl I’m surprised doesn’t get copied more often.

“Ground speed“… what else would it be?

Apparently it’s a reference to a movie I’ve never seen, still eye roll.

Although the Mustang has a reputation of a “guys car“, women have been behind its creation its whole 50 years. Wrote a column about it.

The toggle switches are neat eh.

Ford is bringing back hard buttons, gone is all that touch nonsense.

Blog tag = Mustang

 

 

Designing a Strong DRG and Graphic Signature

Know how there’s those kind of cars, you see one from a distance, it’s features can’t be made out but you can just tell – it’s a Whatever.

Design Speak: this vehicle has a strong DownRoad Graphic,
its Graphic Signature is solid.

Speaking with Kevin George – Ford’s Exterior Design Manager – we learn about the DRG, and how when confronted with an advancing object, the mind goes through “3 reads”, and how that fits with vehicle design.

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

Everything described above – this “graphic signature” – is happening during the day, but the designers also have to pull this off at night. 

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Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

 

 

Hard Buttons are Coming Back

Let this please be a trend – replacing all this touch-control nonsense and revert back to hard buttons.  

Because touch is the opposite of ergonomic, and practically impossible to use without looking, which defeats its purpose.

This is the all-new 2015 Ford Edge.

 

 

A Dedicated Camera Washer

Been saying this forever – if the camera lens is coated in road sludge, it’s no longer a camera (same with the safety aid sensors drivers rely on.)

So where is the washing solution? It’s here.

How it works:

When you clean the windshield, the camera is also cleaned – door opens, washer pops out and hoses down the lens, pops back in. During a test in Phoenix, it removed shaving cream.

Ford added it to their all-new 2015 Edge.

Nice one guys, sincerely.

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Blog tag = cameras on cars

Keri on Driving column – Safety Aids are Overrated